9 Sunscreen Mistakes You Don't Have to Make

An Australian study found that daily sunscreen use could reduce the risk of melanoma by as much as half.
From not applying enough to skipping application on cloudy days, learn how to avoid some common sun protection pitfalls with these expert tips:

9 Sunscreens Mistakes You dont have to make

You already know that itду»s important to wear sunscreen дуо one Australian study even found that daily sunscreen use could reduce the risk of melanoma by as much as half. Even still, a 2015 study revealed most Americans are still not using sunscreen regularly.

What you may not know is that if youду»re not applying sunscreen correctly, you could still be putting your skin at risk for wrinkles, premature aging, sunburn, and worse дуо skin cancer. From not applying enough to skipping application on cloudy days, learn how to avoid some common sun protection pitfalls with these expert tips.

Choosing the Wrong SPF

A higher number doesn't always mean better protection when it comes to SPF. SPF refers to how much sun exposure is needed to burn skin wearing sunscreen vs. skin without it. But according to the Environmental Working Group, high SPFs offer only slightly better protection than their lower SPF counterparts дус SPF 50 blocks 98% of rays, while SPF 100 blocks 99%. The danger here is that people assume they can stay outdoors longer with higher SPF sunscreen, or they apply less, thinking itду»s more effective

Another number to consider? The expiration date. Sunscreen effectiveness begins to decline after that date and most have a shelf life of no more than three years.

Bypassing Broad Spectrum

For the best in sunscreen protection, you should be looking for bottles or sprays labeled broad-spectrum.

UVB rays are the main cause of sunburns; these types of rays mainly affect the top layer of skin cells. They also cause dangerous DNA mutations that can lead to skin cancer.

Thinking One Application Lasts All Day

Applying sunscreen once isnду»t enough if youду»re going to be outside most of the day. Sunscreen begins to break down after a couple of hours, usually from sweating, swimming or being toweled off. If you plan to be outside for several hours, experts recommend applying an ounce дус about the amount to fill a shot glass дус over exposed areas for every two hours that youду»re outside, including ears, hands, feet and the backs of knees.

Also дус donду»t be fooled by sunscreen labels that say думwaterproof.дуќ Reapply if youду»re going to be swimming or doing an activity that causes you to sweat.

Applying Sunscreen Too Late

If youду»ve already got your toes in the sand while youду»re applying your sunscreen, you may have missed the mark.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), for sunscreen to be most effective, it needs to be applied 15-30 minutes before you head outdoors. That gives the ingredients time to begin binding to your skin, making them more effective once you get outside.

And donду»t forget a hat, sunglasses and beach cover-up. Youду»ll receive the best sun protection when combining your sunscreen with these other methods.

Passing on Sun Protection When It's Cloudy

Sunny days arenду»t the only ones that can cause skin damage. Up to 40% of the sunду»s damaging rays can reach you on cloudy days. And even if youду»re inside, office and car windows still allow up to 75% of damaging UVA rays to pass through and harm skin. According to one study referenced by the Skin Cancer Foundation, most skin cancers in the US are found on the left side of peopleду»s bodies and faces, because thatду»s the side exposed to the sun while driving.

Bottom line: Make sure you apply adequate sun protection every day, regardless of how long youду»ll be outside, weather, season, gender or ethnicity.

Skipping Your Lips (and Other Spots)

Arms, legs, shoulders and noses usually get slathered with sunscreen when we head outside, but there are other spots prone to burning that we tend to miss. Areas like the ears, feet, hands, back of the neck, scalp and lips get overlooked in sunscreen application.

Even backs get skipped -- one survey found that out of 1,000 people polled, 40% of men and 33% of women rarely or never used sunscreen on their backs. Combine this with the fact that only 36% of the study participants had their backs checked for skin cancer and itду»s little wonder why skin cancer rates continue to climb.

Guys, Thinking You Don't Need It

Fellas, it doesnду»t matter if youду»re mowing the lawn or playing a round at the golf course, you should still protect your skin from the harmful rays of the sun.

Only 5% of you wear sunscreen daily, and based on a survey by the Skin Cancer Foundation, 50% hadn't used it at all in the past year. However, skipping this step could be costing you in the long run, and not just in the form of premature aging. Research has found that men aged 15-39 with melanoma are 55% more likely to die than women.

So guys, make sure youду»re loading up on a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 every day before heading out.

Using Makeup As Adequate Sun Protection

Ladies, even if your favorite makeup comes with SPF, it doesnду»t mean your skin is completely protected from the sun.

Many cosmetics have added SPF, and while this is better than no protection at all, itду»s not really adequate for sparing your skin from the sunду»s UV rays.

The sunscreen in makeup isnду»t always broad-spectrum, and many women donду»t apply evenly all over their faces or donду»t reapply throughout the day. So to defend the delicate skin of your face from the sun, apply broad-spectrum sunscreen beneath your makeup. Also, skip the lip gloss дус it could be doing you more harm than good.

Kids' Sun Protection

Fifteen minutes is all it takes for the sun to damage unprotected skin, according to the CDC. This is especially dangerous for kids because they have more delicate skin than adults and itду»s more susceptible to harmful UV rays.

Even though itду»s hard to track down squirmy kids and apply sunscreen, itду»s a necessary step before heading outside. One bad sunburn when theyду»re little can more than double your childду»s chances for melanoma down the road.

To keep your kids safe from harmful rays, apply broad-spectrum sunscreen throughout the day, put them in UV-protective clothing, and make sure they seek out shade when the sunду»s rays are at their peak, between 10:00am - 4:00pm.

Speak to an Expert About Sun Protection

Warm-weather months are a great time to get outside and enjoy the sun; just remember to be safe.

Keep an eye on your skin for unusual marks or moles, and schedule an appointment with your doctor if you notice any potential signs or symptoms of skin cancer. Also, be proactive about prevention. The end of summer is a great time to schedule an annual skin exam with your dermatologist.

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